Starch tray feeding machine



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1 w QM H. A. CURRIE STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE A ril 21, 1953 Filed Dec. 11, 1948 Apnl 21, 1953 H. A. CURRIE STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11. 1948 lmsm mam mm 9mm WSW STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 11. 1948 &

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A ril 21; 1953 H. A. CURRIE STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 11. 1948 April 21, 1953 H. A. CURRIE 2,635,768

STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11. 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN V EN TOR.

April 1953 H. A. CURRIE 2,635,768

STARGH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. ll. 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet l0 O N 1 I IN VEN TOR.

April 21, 1953 H. A. CURRIE 2,635,768

STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11. 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 IN VEN TOR.

April 21, 1953 H. A. CURRIE 2,635,768

STARCH TRAY FEEDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet l3 Tr *1: i

IN VEN TOR.

April 1953 H. A. CURRIE 2,635,768

STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1948 14 SheetsSheet 14 IN V EN TOR.

M 9 M, ijsg Patented Apr. 21, 1953 STARCH TRAY FEEDING MACHINE Hugh ALCurrie, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Currie Manufacturing Company, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,758

11 Claims. (Cl. 214-85) This invention relates to feeders for use with machines for making confections such as candy, in which trays of starch charged with molds of candy are delivered. from a stack to a receiving station, dumped, recharged and delivered to a station for stacking, and the recharged tray are stacked for delivery to cooling'rooms.

Machines for dumping the candy and starch fromthe starch trays, separating the starch from the candy, charging the trays. with renovated starch, pressing mold cavities in the starch, filling the molds with molten candy mixture, and delivering the charged-trays to a station for stacking, to be transferred to a-cooling room inwhich the candymixture is permitted to set, are well known in this art. Certain of such machines are commonly termed fmoguls and require no detailed descriptionhere. A mogul is usually provided adjacent the tray receiving station thereof with a feeder for delivering trays from a stack of trays to the mogul. It is also known to provide a stacker at thedelivery end of the mogul, for receiving and stacking the charged trays. My invention is directed to the feeder for delivering the charged starch traysto the receivin station of the mogulwith expedition and facility. More particularly, I provide a feeder whereby the trays are delivered to the receiving station of the mogul from a stack of trays in the feeder, the feeder also providing for a reserve stack of trays and having means for automatically moving the reserve stack" into the feeder when the stack therein from which trays are being delivered has been exhausted. To that end, I provide means whereby a carriage normally positioned forwardly of the feeder, for moving into it the reserve stack of trays, is moved into the feeder, carrying with it the reserve stack of trays, when the last tray of the preceding stack in the feeder has been raised to a'position to clear the entering stack, the carriage being then returned'to its normal forward position for engaging a succeeding reserve stack of trays. The tray carriage is operated by power means controlled by a clutch mechanism, this mechanism being controlled by the trays in such manner as to assure movement of the reserve stack of trays into the feeder at the appropriate time and return of the tray carriage to its normal forward position. I also provide means whereby the operation of the feeder is controlled by the operation of the candy molding machine or mogul in such manner as to assure accuracy in delivery of the trays to the receiving station of the mogul. Also, I provide means for straightening the stack in the feeder so as to assure accurat alignment of the trays thereof lengthwise, or transversely of the feeder, such straightening or aligning means being tray controlled. The feeder of my invention enables delivery of the trays to the receiving station of the mogul at higher speed than is possible with any present day feeder with which I am familiar, thereby materially increasing the output of the mogul, an important consideration in this art. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from th detail. description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a semi-diagrammatic side view of a feeder embodying my invention, as used with a candy molding machine or mogul and a stacker therefor, the molding machine being partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a. front view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of the feeder of Figure 1, with certain parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the feeder, taken from front to back and: looking toward the right side frame, as viewed from in front, certain parts being omitted for clearness of illustration;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the right hand portion, as viewed from in front, of the feeder, taken a short distance above the lower end thereof and looking down;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of the feeder, taken from front to back thereof and looking toward the left as viewed from in front, this view also showing the forward portion of one of the molding machine conveyor chains and associated parts;

Fi ure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the feeder, on an enlarged scale, taken from front to back and looking toward the right as viewed from in front, showing the control bar and associated parts, the trays being in part broken away;

Figure 6A is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken from front to back of the lower portion of the feeder and looking toward the right thereof as viewed from in front, showing the means for controlling actuation of the clutch for driving the main drive shaft;

Figure 6B is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the main drive shaft, broken away in major portion, and of the arm and the rollers carried by that shaft for actuating the main drive shaft control means and the means for actuating the tray stack carriage operating means;

Figure 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line '|--'I of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in plan;

Figure 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 88 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an isometric detail view of the tray actuated finger and the locking bar and associated parts for controlling operation of the tray Zt htening rails and the tray hook releasing ars;

Figure is a view, on an enlarged scale, partly in front elevation and partly in section, of the lower portion of the right hand portion, as viewed from in front, of the feeder, showing the means for projecting the tray stack straightener bars and locking them in projected position, and associated parts;

Figure 11 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken from front to back of the feeder ads jacent the right hand side thereof as viewed from in front and looking toward the left, showing the tray carriage operating and control means, and associated parts; 7

Figure 12 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of the tray carriage frame and associated parts, showing a reserve stack of trays on the frame and a stack of trays being moved to the position which it is to occupy in the feeder;

Figure 13 is a detail fragmentary view of the tray carriage and one of the tray engaging cleats thereon, and associated parts, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 14 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the tray hooks and associated parts as seen looking toward the left side of the feeder as viewed from in front;

Figure 1.5 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken through the rearward portion of the left side frame of the feeder as viewed from in front, showing in plan a tray hook and the trip means for causing folding thereof, and associated parts;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken substantial- 1 on line was of Figure 15, with the tray hook in its fully extended condition;

Figure 16A is a view like Figure 16, but with the 'tray hook in its fully retracted or folded condition;

Figure 17 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of the gear and clutch casing and the parts therein, taken substantially on line of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in elevation; Figure 18 is a sectional view taken substantially on line |8-l B of Figure 17.

The complete candy molding or making machine, shown rather diagrammatically in Figure 1, includes a feeder F, constituting the subject matter of my instant invention, which delivers starch trays, charged with cooled and set candy mixture, to a mogul or machine M, which dumps the trays, separates the starch from the candy, refills the trays with renovated starch, presses mold cavities in the starch and recharges the trays with molten candy mixture, and a stacker S to which the recharged trays are delivered by the machine M, the stacker serving to stack the trays for transfer to cooling rooms in which the candy is permitted to cool and set preliminary to delivering the stacks of charged trays to the feeder F. The stacker S preferably is the stacker of my Patent No. 2,266,170, issued December 16, 1941, and the starch trays t preferably are of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,994,664, issued March 19, 1935, to Adolph Pfitzer. These trays are provided at their ends with supporting legs which serve to space the trays, when stacked, apart in superimposed relation. So far as my instant invention is concerned, any suitable The feeder F comprises two side frames 26,

'shown more clearly in Figures 1, 2 and 3, each formed of plate steel of substantial thickness and having an outer side plate 2| and inwardly extending front and back flanges 22 and 23, respectively, the upper end of each side frame 20,

4 including the flanges thereof, being approximately semicircular, as shown in Figure 1. Each of the side frames has bolted thereto mounting brackets 24 for anchoring the side frames to a suitable foundation. Conveniently, this foundation is a continuation of the foundation upon which the molding machine or mogul M is mounted.

The side frames 26 are disposed in spaced opposed relation and are connected together by a cross channel bar 25 extending therebetween about midway between the front and the back thereof. The bar 25 is provided, at each end thereof, with a bolting flange 26 of considerable thickness which receives securing bolts 21 passing through side plates 2| of the frames 26. The bolts 21 also pass through spacing sleeves 28 (Figure 4) disposed between side plate 2| and flange 26 and receive on their inner ends securing nuts 29 at the inner face of flange 26. The side frames 26 are also connected by an angle cross bar 30 extending therebetween and overlying the channel bar 25. The cross bar 30 is provided, at each end, with a bolting flange 3| of considerable thickness through which pass securing bolts 32 (Figure 10) receiving at their inner ends nuts 33, these bolts 32 also passing through side plates 2| of the side frames 20 and through spacing sleeves 34 similar to sleeves 28, confined between side plate 2| and flange 3|. A cross I beam 35 (Figures 3 and 5) extends between the side frames 20, above the angle bar 36, and is provided, at each end, with a bolting flange 36 of considerable thickness. The flange 36 is secured to side plate 2| of the adjacent side frame 26 by bolts 37 passing through both thereof and receiving on their inner ends securing nuts 38. Spacing sleeves 39 are disposed about the bolts 3'! and confined between side plate 2| and flange 36. By using spacing sleeves 28, 34 and 39 of different lengths, the effective width of the machine may be adjusted to accommodate starch trays of different lengths.

A cross shaft 40 (Figures 3 and 7) extends between the side frames 20, above I beam 35, this shaft being rotatably mounted in brackets 4| bolted to side plates 2| of frames 26. A sprocket wheel 42 is secured on shaft 40 adjacent the right 'hand side frame 20' of the feeder, as viewed from in front. A sprocket chain 43 (Figure 3) passes over the sprocket wheel 42 and thence downward about a sprocket wheel 44 secured on a shaft 45 rotatably mounted at its inner end in a hearing bracket 46 secured to the angle cross bar 36, The shaft 45 extends outward through side plate 2| of the adjacent side frame 26, into a clutch and gear housing or casing 4'1 (Figure 1) bolted to the side frame 26. The casing 20 contains suitable gearing and clutch means, as will be explained more fully later, connected to a suitable power source, whereby the shaft 45 is appropriately driven. It will be apparent that when the shaft 45 is rotated, the shaft 40 is likewise rotated in the same direction as shaft 45. One run of the chain 43 passes about an idler sprocket 48 appropriately mounted for rotation on the side frame 26, and the other run of chain 43 passes about a tightener sprocket 49 carried by a bracket 56 bolted for adjustment to flange 36 of the I beam 35. This sprocket 49 maintains the upwardly traveling or slack run of chain 43 under desirable tension, effective for preventing objectionable vibration or slapping thereof.

Two spur gears 5| are secured upon shaft 46, spaced a short distance from the ends thereof.

Thespur gears-| mesh with spur gears 52 (Fig ures' 3 and 7) .secured'to, conveniently formed integral with, sprocket wheels 53, of materially greater diameter than the sprocket wheel 52, rotatably mounted on stub shafts 54 each provided with a base 55 bolted to side plate 2| of the corresponding side frame 20, adjacent the upper end thereof. It will be seen, from what has been said, that when the shaft 45 is driven, the gear wheels 52, and with them the sprocket wheels 53, are driven oppositely to the spur gears 5|. Preferably, each of the side frames 20 has a reinforcing plate 2|] (Figures 3 and 7) suitably secured, conveniently by welding, to the inner face of its side plate, in the areas thereof adjacent the shafts, to be later referred to, mounted thereon.

A roller type sprocket chain 56, of known construction, passes over each of the sprocket wheels 53 and thence downward along the side frame 20 adjacent the front and the rear thereof. The vertical runs of chain 56 travel in guide structures shown more clearly in Figures 3, 4 and '15. Each of the guide structures comprises a plurality of vertically spaced brackets 57 bolted to side plate 2| of side frame 29. Front and back guide strips 58 are suitably secured in the brackets 51 and define between them an inwardly opening channel. Relatively thick guide rails 59 are secured to the strips 58, at the opposed faces thereof, these rails 59 being arranged in pairs and spaced apart transversely of the brackets 51. The inner pair of rails 59 receive between them the usual rollers 69 loose on the pins connecting the ends of the links of chain 56. The rear chain guide structure, indicated in its entirety by the reference number 6|, terminates a considerable distance above the lower end of side frame 29, as is shown more clearly in Figure 3, The lower ends of the guide rails 59 are flared to facilitate downward passage of the chain 55 therebetween and their upper ends are also beveled or flared to facilitate entry therebetween of the chain. The chain 56 travels downward through the guide structure 6|, from which it passes downward and forward about an idler guide sprocket 62 rotatably mounted on a bracket 63 adjustably secured, by bolt and slot means, to side plate 2| of side frame 29. The front chain guide structure, indicated in its entirety by the reference number 65, is similar to the rear guide structure, except that the guide rails 59 are provided, at their lower ends, with rearward extensions 56 and 61. The chain 56 passes from the guide sprocket .52 forward between the extensions 66 and .61 of the guide rails, of which. extension 66 is disposed above the bottom run of chain 56 and terminates short of the sprocket wheel 62, thelexten'sion 67 being below the bottom run of the chain and extending rearward beyond the sprocket wheel 62. It will be clear, from what has been said, that the front guide structure 65, including the extensions 66 and 61 thereof, extends downward to within a short distance of the bottom of side frame 29, and that the chain 56 passes downward through the rear guide structure 6|, thence about the guide pulley 52 and from there forward between the extensions 66 and 67 of the front guide rails 59, and then upward through the forward guide structure 65. It will also be clear that the chains 56 and associated parts are carried by the side frames 20 constituting therewith side units of the feeder, so that by adjusting the distance between the side frames 20, in the manner previously described, the effective width of the feeder may be adjusted to accommodate starch trays of different lengths.

The molding. machine or mogul M is provided with a tray conveyor (Figures 1, 5 and 6A) extending into the rearward portion of the feeder a short distance above the lower end of the rear chain guide structures 6| of the respective side frames 20. This conveyor 10 comprises side rails 1| seating on a cross angle bar 12 secured to the side frames v2|) of the feeder. Each of the side rails 1| comprises a base strip 13 (Figure 8) and spaced slide strips 14 secured upon the upper face of base strip 1| defining therewith a channel 'hl which receivesthe upper run of a conveyor chain 15. It will be understood that there are two rails 10 and two chains 15, one adjacent each side of the feeder. Each of the chains 15 passes about a sprocket wheel 16 secured on a shaft 1"! rotatably mounted at its end portions in bearing brackets 18 secured to the rails 1|. The forward portion of the conveyor 10 extending into .the feeder provides the tray receiving sta tion of the mogul, to which the'trays are delivered'by thefeeder. Each of the conveyor chains I5 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced cleats 19 of such height as to project above the slide strips 14, for contact with a tray resting thereon at the receiving station, these cleats 19 being arranged in pairs with those of each pair aligned transversely of the conveyor 16.

Each of the chains 56 carries a plurality of equally spaced tray hooks 89, shown more clearly in Figures 4, 14, 15, 16 and 16A. .The hook 88 comprises a body 8| provided with a tubular element or sleeve 82 which receives a mounting pin 83. This pin 83 passes through the ends of adjacent links of the chain. 56 and outward beyond'the chain, receiving the chain roller 60 and, at its outer portion, a roller 84 which operates between the outer pair of guide rails 59, as is shown more clearly in Figure 15. The hooks 89 are thus pivotally mounted on the chains 56 and are arranged in pairs, with those of each pair aligned transversely of the feeder, as will be understood. The body 8| of each hook 88 has mounted thereon top and bottom guide rollers 86 and 81, respectively, which travel between the inner portions of the guide strips 58. When a hook 89 passes downward out of the rearward guide structure 6|, it travels with the chain 56 downward and forward to the guide sprocket 62 (Figure 3). The hook then passes forward to the lower ends of the front guide strips 58 and then passes upward with the rollers 86 and 81 betweenthose guide strips, in up right position. The center of gravity of hook is well below the pin 83 so that hook 89 remains in its normal vertical position during its travel from the rearward guide structure 6| to the front guide'strips 58.

The body 8| of hook 86 is provided, adjacent its upper end, with a tubular cross head 99 from which an arm 9| extends upward and inward, this arm being provided at its upper end with a tubular cross head 92. Body 8| of hook 80 is further provided, a short distance below the pivot pin 83, with a tubular cross head 93. Two arms 94 and 94 connected by a cross bar 95, are pivoted at their upper ends, at 96, to the cross head 93. Each of the arms 94 and 94 is provided with a bayonet slot 91, these slots receiving a pin 98 extending through a cross head 99 adjacent the lower end of an L-shaped link I80 pivoted at its upper end, at ml, to cross head 92 of arm 9I. Tension springs I02 are anchored at their lower ends to short sleeves I03 mounted on the outer end portions of a rod I04 passing through the arms 94 a short distance inward from the pivot 99 thereof. The upper ends of the springs I02 are anchored to sleeves I05 mounted on the end portions of the pin I06 passing through the cross head 90. The springs I02 act as overcenter springs for folding and extending the tray hook 80. When the arms 94 are moved downward and outward, by means to be described later, into such position that the center lines of the springs I02 pass beyond the axis of pivot 90, the springs I02 swing arms 94 downward and outward to their positions shown at the bottom of Figure 2. The downward and outward movement of the arms 94 is limited by contact therewith, at the upper ends of slots 91, of studs I 08 operating therein and carried by tray gripper pawls I09 pivoted on the end portions of pin 99. The parts of the hook then occupy their positions shown at the bottom of Figure 2.

When the arms 94 are moved inward from their position shown at the bottom of Figure 2 sufficiently to bring the center line of the springs I02 inside of the axis of pivot 96, the springs I02 swing the arms 94 upward and inward. Assuming that there is a stack of trays t in the feeder, when the arms 94 are swung inward and upward a flattened area H0 at the lower end portion of link I00 contacts the adjacent ends of the trays t. The flattened area H0 is of sufficient extent to bridge the space between two adjacent trays, so that the hook 00 moves upward along the stack of trays in partially extended or unfolded condition, as shown by the second hook from the bottom of Figure 2. The link I00 is also provided with a finger II extending downward from cross head 99. An L shaped tray gripper H3 is secured to finger III and projects inward therefrom. When the fiat area II 0 of link I00 passes above the topmost tray of the stack, the springs I02 swing the arms 94 upward and inward a further distance. Such upward and inward movement of the arms 94 brings the lower tray gripper II 3 into position engaging the bottom of the tray and, at the same time, the pin 98 enters the then downwardly directed arms 97 of the slots 91. That permits turning of the upper tray grippers I09 about the pin 98 in the further upward movement of arms 94 by tension springs I02, which moves the grippers I 09 into contact with the top of the tray end, which is then gripped firmly between the lower gripper [I3 and theupper grippers I09, the springs I02 being then effective for maintaining the grippers in gripping en-. gagement with the tray end. It will be understood, from what has been said, that the tray is thus securely gripped at each end and, in the continued upward travel of the tray hooks 80, is lifted from the stack and conveyed upward tothe top of the feeder and then downward, after passing about the sprocket wheels 53, to the receiving station of the mogul, at which station the tray is set upon the slide strips 74 0f the mogul conveyor 10, as will be explained presently.

One arm-the front arm94 of the tray hook 80 has secured thereto a forwardly extending stud I20, for a purpose to be explained more fully later. provided with an outwardly extending trip finger I2I at its upper end, shown more clearly in Fig- The other arm 94 of the tray hook B0 is ures 15, 16 and 16A. A mounting bracket I22 is clamped, by a clamp bolt I23 (Figures 5 and 15) to the rearward flange 23 of each of the side frames 20. A trip block I24 is pivotally mounted on clamp I22 by a headed screw stud I25 threaded therein. The block I24 extends downward from screw stud I25 and is provided, adjacent its lower end, with a bore or recess I26 extending from its forward face. A compression spring I21 extends into bore I26 and is confined between the inner end wall thereof and a finger I20 of the bracket I22.

As the tray hooks travel downward, at the rear of the feeder, the trip fingers i2I thereof contact the trip blocks I24. Further downward travel of the hooks 30, for a short distance, serves to swing the arms 94 downward sufiiciently to cause the center lines of the tension springs I02 to pass outward beyond the axis of the pivot 95, the springs I92 then acting to swing the arms 94 to their outermost positions, thus completing the folding of the hook 89, which is then spaced outward clear of the tray and the parts of which occupy the positions shown in Figure 16A and at the bottom of Figure 2. The trip blocks I24 are so disposed that the downwardly moving hooks 80 are tripped and folded in the manner stated when the tray carried by a pair of hooks reaches the slide strips l4 (Figures 1, 5 and 8) of the conveyor 70 of the mogul M. In that manner, the tray is released from the hooks 00 and is set upon the tray receiving conveyor of the mogul, after which the cleats 79 of the conveyor chains 55 contact the tray and move it into the mogul. The trip finger I2I of arm 94 first contacts the upper end of trip block I24 (Figure 16) inside of the stud I25 and, after being swung upward, travels downward. along the inner face of block I24. The compression spring 12'! normally holds the block I24 at an inclination downward and inward of the feeder, sufiicient to assure that the arm 94 of tray hook will be swung downward and outward sufficiently to cause the tension springs I02 to completely fold the hook 30. In that manner, I compensate for such differences in length of the trip fingers I2I of the hooks 80 as may exist due to slight inaccuracies in manufacture, the compression spring IZ'I accommodating outward swinging movement of block 524 while being of adequate strength to assure complete folding of the tray hooks.

Referring to Figures 1, 2', 10 and 12, a suitably constructed carriage frame I30, rectangular in plan, extends between the side frames 20 and projects a considerable distance forward thereof. The frame I30 is provided, at each side thereof, with a tray slide strip HI curved downward at its forward portion, at I32, to facilitate placing a stack of trays upon the strips I3I. As is shown more clearly in Figure 12, the strips I 3| taper rearward so that their upper faces are inclined slightly downward and rearward of the feeder, for a purpose to be explained more fully presently. The frame I30 comprises angle side rails I53 each having an angle strip I94 secured to its inner face defining, with the upper flange I35 of rail I33 a guide channel I39. As will be understood, there are two guide channels I30, one at each side of the frame I30, and each of these channels I36 slidably receives the upper flange I33 of an angle strip I39 secured to the outer side of the side rail I 40 of a carriage I4 I, also rectangular in plan, thus slidably mounted in the frame I30. A pawl or cleat I42 is pivotally mounted, by a shouldered cap screw I43, on each side rail I40 of carriage I 4| at the front thereof. The cleat I42 is disaeea'res posed, in major portion, forward of the pivot cap screw I43 (Figure 13) so that it normally is held by gravity in upright position, with its base seating upon an underlying stop plate I45 secured to the side rail I ll). Rearward swinging of the cleat I42 is limited by a boss I46 thereof disposed to contact plate Hi5, so that the cleats may pass beneath a stack of trays on the frame I39 in the forward movement of carriage IIII, as will be explained presently, but will be returned by gravity to their normal upright position as soon as they clear the bottom tray of the stack.

An eye bolt I48 (Figures and 11) is adjustably secured to carriage I4I, at the rearward end and adjacent each side thereof. An angle link I49 is pivotally connected at its forward end to bolt I48. A clevis I50 is secured to the rearward end of link I49 and straddles the lower end of an arm I5I, to which it is pivoted at I52. As will be understood, there are two arms I5I keyed at their upper ends on a shaft I53 rockably mounted in arms Iii i extending upward and rearward from two brackets I55 (Figures 2 and 11) extending be tween channel bar 25 and angle bar 30, spaced apart lengthwise thereof and bolted thereto. It will be clear, from what has been said, that turning of shaft I53 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 11, imparts forward movement to the carriage I M, and turning of shaft I53 counterclockwise moves the carriage I4I rearward.

A shaft I58 is rotatably mounted through one of the brackets I55 (Figures and 11) and projects a substantialdistance outward therebeyond. The outer end of shaft I58 is connected, by a split coupling I59, to a stub shaft I60 extending into the gear and clutch casing 41 and driven, from a suitable power source, through gear and clutch means in that casing. The shaft I53 extends inward beyond its associated bracket I55 and has a crank arm I62 secured upon its inner end. A stub shaft I63 is rotatably mounted in the other bracket I55, coaxial with shaft I58 and projects beyond its associated bracket toward the latter shaft. A crank arm I64 is secured upon stub shaft I63 in spaced relation to crank arm I62. The crank arms I62 and I64 are provided, at their outer ends, with sleeves I65 and I66, respectively, which receive between them the sleeve I61 at the forward end of a T-shaped member I68. A crank pin I10 passes through the aligned sleeves I65, I66 and I61 and is restrained against endwise movement by nuts I1I screwing on its ends. A threaded rod I12 screws into the rearward end of the stem of the T member I68 and is secured in adjustment therein by a jam nut I13. The rod I12 also screws into a clevis I14, in which it is secured in adjustment by a jam nut I15. The clevis I14 straddles the lower end of an arm I16 fixed on shaft I53 between the bracket arms I54. It will be seen that the member I68, screw rod I12 and clevis I14 provide an adjustable link connection between the crank pin I10 and thearm I16. When the shaft I50 is turned through one complete revolution, the crank pin I is moved from its normal position shown in-Figure 11 through a circular path concentric with shaft I58 and returned to its normal position. During the first 180 of movement of the crank pin I10 the arms I5I are swung rearward thereby moving the carriage I4I to its full rearward position, and during the movement of this pin I10 through the succeeding 180 the carriage MI is returned to its normal forward position, at which time turning of the shaft I58 is terminated, as will be explained more fully later.

10 In that manner, the carriage MI is moved to its rearward position, effective for moving a stack of trays into the feeder, and is then returned to its normal forward position preparatory to moving a succeeding stack of trays into the feeder.

A tray actuated trip finger I56 (Figures 5 and 9) is pivoted at its upper end, at I8I to a bracket I82 bolted to channel member 25. Finger I is connected, at a point a short distance above its mid-length, by a link I53, to an arm I64 secured at its uper end on an elongated sleeve I85, adjacent one end thereof. This sleeve I85 is rockably mounted on a shaft I86 provided at each end with a reduced stud I51, which studs I01 are rockably mounted in brackets I88 secured to the rear flange of channel member 25 and spaced apart lengthwise thereof. The sleeve I55 is urged in clockwise direction Figure 5- counterclockwise Figure 9, by a weight I69 adjustable along a rod ltd secured to and extending rearward from sleeve I65. When stacked trays are in the feeder, the bottom tray of the stack contacts the lower end of finger I85 and holds it in rearward position in opposition to the weight I 09. A second arm I92 is fixed on sleeve I85 at the other end thereof and extends upward therefrom. The arm I92 carries a roller I93 disposed to contact the forward edge of a head I54 at the lower end of a link I pivoted at its upper end, at I96, to the rearward end of a lever i91 pivoted at about its mid-length, at I98, in a bracket I96 bolted to the angle bar 30. The lever I91 is provided, at its forward arm, with a plate 200 disposed for contact by a roller 20I carried by an arm 202 fixed on shaft 45. -It will be clear, from what has been said, that when the shaft 45 is rotated, the lever 200 is oscillated thereby imparting vertical reciprocation to the link I95.

The head I94 of link I95 is provided with a bayonet slot 205 having a relatively short horizontal upper arm and a relatively long vertical arm, as shown. This slot 295 receives a pin 206 carried by an arm 201 fixed on shaft I86 adjacent arm I92. Head I64 of link I95 is urged forward by a weight 205 adjustably secured on a rod 209 secured to and extending rearward from head I94. The weight 208 normally holds head I94 in its forward position, in contact with roller I93 and with pin 206 disposed in vertical arm of bayonet slot 205. With head I94 disposed in its normal position, reciprocation of link I95 is ineffective for actuating the shaft I86, as will be clear from what has been said. A weight ZIZ, adjustably secured on a rod 2I3 secured to and extending rearward from arm 201, urges the latter and shaft I55 in clockwise direction, as view in Figure 5-counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 9.

An angular locking finger 2I4 is secured to shaft I86 and extends upward and forward therefrom. The finger 2I4 underlies two bars 2I5 (Figures 10 and 11) slidably mounted in U- brackets 2I6 bolted to channel member 25. The bars 2I5 are yieldingly urged outward, by means to be described more fully presently, and each of the bars 2I5 is provided with an elongated 'notch 2I1 (Figure 10) in its lower edge. When the bars 2I5 are in their normal inner positions, the notches 2 I1 thereof overlap and locking finger 2I4 then engages in the notches 2I1 thereby locking the bars 2 I5 in their inner positions. It will be clear, from what has been said, that weight 212 normally holds shaft I86 in an angular position such that the locking finger 2 I4 is effective for locking the bars in their inner position, and holds the finger 2I4 under pressure against the lower edges of the bars 2I5 when they are in their outer positions.

Each of the bars 2I5 is connected, by an adjustable link 22 (Figures 4 and to the downwardly extending arm 22I of a bell crank lever 222 pivoted at 223 between two angle brackets 224 bolted to the upper face of channel member '25. The upper arms of the levers 222 are opposed and the downwardly extending arms 22I thereof are connected to the bars 2I5 in reverse relation. The upper arm 222 of each bell crank 222 has mounted thereon a roller 225. The forward one of the bars 2I5 is connected to the left bell crank 222, as viewed in Figure 10, and the rearward bar 2I5 is connected to the right bell crank 222, so that these bars are connected to the bell cranks in reverse relation, as above noted. The forward or front bar '2I5 is connected, by an adjustable link 228, including an eye bolt 221, to the upper end of an arm 228 secured on a shaft 229 (Figures 10 and 11) extending transversely of the right hand side frame of the feeder, as viewed from in front. The shaft 229 is provided at its ends with reduced studs 230 rockably mounted in bearing brackets 23I and 232, respectively secured to side plate 2I of frame 20 and to a front mounting bracket 24 secured to front flange 22 of frame 20. A second arm 234 is secured on shaft 229, adjacent the forward end thereof, and extends therefrom downward and inward through a slot 235 in side plate H of side frame 20. The arm 234 is pivoted at its inner end, at 235, to the lower end of a link 236 pivoted at its upper end, at 231, to a stack straightener bar 238 (Figures 2, 4 and 10). The stack straightener bar 238 is pivotally mounted a short distance from its lower end, at 239, on a triangular mounting plate 240 pivoted at 24I on front flange 22 of side frame 20. The straightener bar 238 is similarly mounted adjacent its upper end on a triangular mounting plate (not shown) similar to plate 240 pivoted to flange 22 of side frame 20, thus providing a parallel linkage mounting for bar 238 effective for maintaining it in vertical position during its movements to and from operative position. It will be understood that there is a straightener bar 238 at each side of the feeder, at the front thereof, each connected to one of the bars 2I5, and mounted, in the manner above described. Each of the straightener bars 238 is urged upward by a tension spring 243, anchored at its lower end to bar 238 and at its upper end to flange 22 of the side frame, as is shown more clearly in Figure 5. When the feeder is in operation, with the stacked trays therein, the straightener bars 238 are in lowered inner positions with their inner edges in close proximity to the ends of the trays effective for maintaining them in alignment transversely of the feeder. At that time the bars 2I5 are in their inner positions, in which they are held by the locking finger 2I4 in opposition to the tension springs 243.

A tray hook throw in or releasing bar 245 (Figures 2, 4 and 10) is provided with an outwardly extending ear 248 pivoted at 241 to the mounting plate 240. The pivot 241 is disposed above and outward of the pivot 239 of the straightening bar 238, for a purpose which will appear presently. This triangular arrangement of the pivots 239, MI and 241 is of importance and the mounting plate 240 conveniently is of triangular shape, though that is not essential and this plate may be of any suitable shape so long as the triangular arrangement of the pivots is maintained. The throw in or hook release bar 245 is mounted, adjacent its upper end, on the upper triangular plate on which the straightener bar 238 is also mounted, as above described. That provides a parallel linkage which maintains the bar 245 vertical in its movement to and from operative position. The lower end of the hook releasing bar 245 is inclined upward and inward at- 249. When the tray straightening bar 238 is in its inner operative position shown in Figures 2, 4 and 10, the hook releasing bar 245 is in its operative position. As previously explained, the tray hooks are in folded inoperative condition when they pass forward to the front guide structure 35 for the tray conveyor chain 56. As the hooks start upward at the front of the feeder, the studs I20 thereof (Figure 2) contact the beveled lower end 249 of the releasing bar 245. In the upward travel of hook 80, the arms 94 thereof are forced inward and upward, until the tension springs I02 pass inward over center, at which time the springs swing the arms 94 upward so as to unfold or extend the tray hook inward. In Figure 2, the lowermost tray hook 80 is in fully folded or inoperative position. When it has been moved upward a short distance from its position shown, the stud I20 contacts the lower end 249 of the releasing bar 245 and the tray hook is then unfolded to the extent permitted by contact of area III] of the link I00 with the tray ends, as previously described. When the tray hook reaches the top of the stack of trays in the feeder, it moves inward to its fully unfolded or extended position and grips the end of the top tray of the stack, thus lifting that tray from the stack and conveying it to the receiving station of the mogul, as previously described.

A guide plate 250 is mounted on each side frame 20, by suitably disposed straps 25I, and extends forwardly thereof. The guide plates 250 are flared outward at their forward edges for reception therebetween of the rearward portion of a reserve stack of trays set upon the strips I3I of the carriage frame I30. When the bottom tray of the stack in the feeder is lifted from the frame I30 (Figures 5, 9 and 11) the tray actuated trip finger I80 is released and the sleeve I is then turned clockwisecounterclockwise in Figure 9-by its associated weight. The roller I93 on arm I92 swings head I94 of link I95 rearward, so that the pin 206 is positioned in the upper horizontal arm of the bayonet slot 205. Shortly thereafter, the roller 20I contacts plate 200 of lever I91, thereby raising the link I95 and turning the shaft I86 counterclockwiseclockwise in Figure 9in opposition to its associated weight 2 I2. That swings the locking finger '2I4 downward thus releasing the bars 2I5, as will be understood more clearly from Figure 10. The stack straightener bars 238 are then raised by the tension springs 243, moving the bars 2I5 outward. Thereafter the locking finger '2I4 is ineffective and contacts the lower edges of the bars 2I5, so long as they remain in their outer positions. As the stack straightener bars 238 are moved upward by the tension springs 243, they swing outward about the pivots 24I into-inoperative position, spaced an appreciable distance outward beyond the ends of the trays of an entering stack, guarding against interference .with movement of the stack of trays into the 

